Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 3: To ask the Taoiseach the number of freedom of information requests received by his Department during March 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18627/09]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 4: To ask the Taoiseach the number of freedom of information requests received by his Department since January 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22279/09]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 5: To ask the Taoiseach the number of freedom of information requests received by his Department in the first four months of 2009; the way these compare with the same period in each year since 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22355/09]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 5, inclusive, together.

My Department received two freedom of information, FOI, requests in March 2009, 31 in the first four months of this year and 37 between the start of the year and the end of May. In response to the second part of Deputy Gilmore's question, I have included below a table showing the numbers of FOI requests received in my Department each month from January to May for the years 2002 to 2009.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The number of requests in general increased by 18% last year and more than 12,500 requests were made in 2008, which was the first increase since 2005. I assume the Taoiseach's Department does not apply a ruling which has apparently occurred in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. It directed staff in July last year to stop approving citizenship applications until new regulations came into force.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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That has nothing to do with questions to the Taoiseach.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I draw this to the Taoiseach's attention because it came to light under freedom of information material supplied to RTE. The reason for the instruction being given was indicated when an official at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform stated that approval letters should not be issued until further notice because of regulations due to come into effect shortly which will amend fees for naturalisation certificates. In Ireland, these fees range from €650 to €950. In Canada, the charge is Canadian $127 Canadian dollars and in Australia it is Australian $136 Australian dollars.

Will the Taoiseach make inquiries to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform as to why that kind of instruction was given to an official?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Taoiseach will deal with matters relevant to his own Department.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It only became available under the Freedom of Information Acts.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The scale of fees is a matter for the Department of Finance. We have been through this before.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The delay in approval certificates for naturalisation was being used as a method of fundraising in the Department.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy should put down a question to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The Taoiseach will not be able to help the Deputy.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I have asked my next question before. In 2005, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service met with representatives of the Information Commissioner and assessed the impact of fees on the Freedom of Information Act. The committee wrote to the Taoiseach when he was Minister for Finance to have the matter addressed by way of legislation at the first available opportunity as it considered, as a representative of the people here, that the fees were excessive. Nothing has happened since. Does the Taoiseach consider that the fees applied are excessive? Is he willing to change them?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The scale of fees is a matter for the Minister for Finance and unfortunately the Taoiseach has no role in it.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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In my then capacity I did not believe them excessive, nor do I believe them to be excessive now.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Information Commissioner has expressed on a number of occasions concern about charges, particularly those relating to appeals. She has suggested that there should be a fundamental review of the freedom of information legislation. What consideration has the Taoiseach given to the Information Commissioner's opinion?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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This should be a matter for the Department of Finance.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The greatest extension we have ever seen of freedom of information took place during my time at the Department of Finance in terms of the number of agencies and organisations now subject to its requirements. We are in a position to consider many recommendations favourably but I do not agree with the commissioner on the question of fees.